Yamaha HS80M Active Studio Monitor

Sporting the same instantly-recognizable look and ultra-flat response as Yamaha's iconic, long-discontinued white-woofer NS10s, the Yamaha HS80M is destined to become a standard that no studio will be able to go without. The Yamaha HS80M builds on the NS10s' reputation as the most trusted reference monitors in the industry, particularly for their ability to reveal mid-range detail in even the densest mixes. Even if you've already got a pair of NS10s, you'll want to take a look and listen to Yamaha's HS80M reference monitors, as they offer significant improvements over their famous predecessors.

120-Watt Powered Speakers for Easier Setup

While the NS10s were considered "necessary," whoever was tasked with installing them probably considered the monitors to be "necessary evils." For starters, the NS10s were passive, meaning a suitable, matching power source has to acquired to drive them. Yamaha has eliminated this hassle by designing the HS80M as an active, bi-amped system. A 120-watt power amp drives the 8-inch woofer cone and 1-inch dome tweeter, with an internal crossover perfectly tuned to maintain that classic Yamaha neutral frequency curve. Not only does this make setup easier, but having the right power source eliminates potential distortion issues, and the expertly executed bi-amping softens mid- and high-range harshness, making it a less-fatiguing listen than the NS10.

A More Flexible Monitor

Because of their unique "brutally honest" sound, the NS10M is often relegated to the role of secondary monitor; it's typically used as a tool for putting parts of a mix under the microscope, but not for getting the whole picture. While the incredibly detailed HS80M can certainly fill that role, they're suitable as main monitors as well. The addition of +/- 2 dB trim switches for low-, mid-, and high-frequency bands help combat issues that can arise from sub-optimal placement in crowded control rooms, like bass coupling or frequency-hyping reflections.

Affordable Quality

Yamaha wants their HS80M to be as ubiquitous as the NS10M, and that's why these monitors are available for a price that belies their high-quality construction. The MDF bass reflex cabinet delivers a tight bass response and smooth high end. The polypropylene woofer cones will outlast musical fad after musical fad, as will the high-grade XLR-1/4" combo input jack. Extra touches like complete magnetic shielding and low-damping rubber-surrounds make it an affordable, yet high-quality component for controls rooms, computer audio workstations, hi-fi entertainment systems, or for building 5.1 surround mixing systems.

For the past 20 years or so, it's been hard to find a professional recording studio or audio post house that didn't have a pair of Yamaha reference monitors. It's become a part of common engineering knowledge that a mix that sounds good on a pair of NS10s will sound like a hit on any system. One listen to these speakers and you'll know that the white-woofer legacy is still firmly intact. Let the Yamaha HS80M become your indispensable studio tool.

Yamaha HS80M Active Studio Monitor

The HS Series powered monitors were designed to be true studio reference monitors in the tradition of the famous NS10Ms. When choosing your next pair of near field reference monitors, remember it's not just important that they sound good; they have to be an honest reference for your mix. The HS Series of reference monitors were designed to give you exceptionally flat response so you can really trust what you hear. That means that mixes that sound good on Yamaha HS speakers will sound good on anything. In fact, that's the ultimate test of a reference monitor. Even better than that, HS series speakers not only sound good, they look great, too.

The HS Series is a two-way, internally powered speaker system designed to provide affordable, high quality reference monitoring for all types of recording and multimedia applications -- home studios, computer-based music production, gaming systems, keyboards rigs and personal computer systems. All products are sold and packaged individually, making it easy to build flexible monitor setups and 5.1 systems.

The 120-watt HS80M (8-in. cone and 1-in. dome tweeter) is housed in a bass reflex-type cabinet, and reproduces surprisingly tight low end and smooth, high frequency response to beyond 20 kHz. Inputs include a balanced XLR and 1/4-in. phone jack. In addition to master level controls, each speaker has trim switches that allow you to custom-tailor low, mid and high frequency response for different applications.

HS Series cabinets look as great as they sound. Enclosures are constructed of high-quality MDF material and a multiple layer finish that minimizes resonance. Design elements include a black finish and lighted Yamaha tuning fork logo. White polypropylene woofer cones recall the look of the classic Yamaha NS10M, and include low-damping rubber surrounds and full magnetic shielding.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Pro Studio Engineer retiring my NS10M Studio's for these!"

Sound:
I'm a Pro Studio and live engineer who's been mixing National Artists for years. My studio has relied on a pair of Yamaha "NS10M Studio" monitors for 20 years. ( NS10M Studio are second gen. mon's designed for the studio, with proper horn dispersion, vs. older NS10's designed for home use. I will admit that I had an eq on the old monitors to tweak them to perfection, but the only way NS10M Studio's ever produced ear fatigue was if they are not placed properly. Any stereo monitor system must be place at least 60 degrees off center (30 degrees per speaker) to hear a true sweet stereo mix. I read the reviews on these HS80M's and I went to Guitar Ctr. to audition them with a studio mix CD. Forget about anything else!!! These monitors blew away any other powered monitor in any price range! After installing them properly in my studio, they are truly a step above the NS10M's as well. They are the truest representation of a mix that I have ever heard. The entire frequency band is truly reproduced accurately, and no further eq'ing is needed whatsoever. I saw one review claiming that these were brighter. Wrong. They are fantastic and true. They sound brighter than other high-end boxes because there are a lot of other boxes that falsely over-emphasize low-mid frequencies poorly, and you don't get a real mix of your sound. These have great low end, but not added frequencies that aren't supposed to be there! You will hear your true mix and you can eq your mix to how you want it to really sound. Also, I saw someone claiming these have a hiss? WRONG. Learn proper grounding of your studio and avoid grounding loops. Installed properly, there is no hiss whatsoever! They are as quiet as can be. I agree, if it sounds good on these, it will sound great anywhere! I also demo'd the new Yamaha RH10MS Headphones while I was at Guitar Ctr, and they are as perfect and true as the HS80M's. If you want great headphones just as accurate, pick them up as well! There's no debate, buy them both and go succeed!
Overall:
Will be using these for the next 20 years.

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

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"I"

Sound:
excellent, these things are milky, punchy a crisp threw and threw.
Feature:
average features for a monitor of this price range...
Quality:
Excellent, heavy duty casing, they feel real solid and heck its yamaha what do you expect
Value:
at roughly $350.00 each with the sound that you get they are worth it, they beat the pants off of my $1,000.00 Events, im sad to say that but its true...so these might be a little steep for the newer guys, but do yourself a favor and SAVE UP....
Manufacturer Support:
havent had to use it yet
The Wow Factor:
after one listening session I HAD TO HAVE THEM, so that's my view on it
Overall:
they are great, I heard them in my buddies studio after he initially set them up and right out of the box without tweaking they were hammering, so i knew i had to have them, bought mine a few days ago and im in love...

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